Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2024)

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Kristina Vänni

Kristina Vänni

Internationally recognized culinary authority Kristina Vänni is a well-known food writer, engaging TV host, award-winning recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer. In addition to writing for industry-leading websites including Better Homes and Gardens, The Spruce Eats, and Food52, she has been a featured expert on national media such as ABC News’ “World News Tonight” and CBS’ “The Talk” and has served as a spokesperson and recipe developer for national brands such as Finlandia, KitchenAid, Post Foods, Baileys, among many others. Kristina is currently writing her first cookbook, an exploration of the traditional and seasonal cuisine from her family's dairy farm in Finland. Kristina enthusiastically shares her creative content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and industry expertise with food enthusiasts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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published Dec 30, 2021

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Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (1)

When you are looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared in just one pot, look no further than American goulash.

Serves4 to 6Prep5 minutesCook20 minutes

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Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2)

When you’re looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared from start to finish all in the same pot, look no further than American goulash. This meal is quite different than the traditional Hungarian dish. It starts with seasoned ground beef and incorporates noodles — typically elbow macaroni or wide egg noodles. It all comes together with the help of beef stock and tomatoes and in under half an hour, dinner is served!

What Is American Goulash?

American goulash, sometimes called slumgullion, American Chop Suey, or even Beef-a-Roni, is an American comfort-food dish popular in the Midwest and South. Besides the name, there is no real connection to Hungarian goulash in terms of the flavor or ingredients.

Key Ingredients in American Goulash

While Hungarian goulash is a soup or stew made with beef, onions, and paprika, American goulash is a beef, tomato, and macaroni dish. American goulash can be seasoned in a wide variety of ways, often with aromatics such as onion and garlic as well as Italian seasoning blend. It often includes paprika as a nod to the Hungarian goulash namesake. American goulash can also be topped with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese, if desired.

Slumgullion Versus Goulash

Some use the names slumgullion and American goulash interchangeably to refer to the same beef and noodle dish. However, slumgullion tends to be more of a stew consistency made up with meat and whatever else is on hand. Goulash is sometimes used figuratively to mean a jumble or a hodgepodge, therefore it is also implied that the dish can include a variety of available ingredients.

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American Goulash Recipe

When you are looking for a dinner that will be a hit with the whole family and can be prepared in just one pot, look no further than American goulash.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    medium yellow onion

  • 1 tablespoon

    olive oil

  • 1 pound

    lean ground beef (90% lean)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons

    Italian seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    red pepper flakes

  • 1 (28-ounce) can

    crushed tomatoes

  • 2 cups

    beef broth

  • 1 tablespoon

    Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 cups

    dried elbow macaroni (about 9 ounces)

  • 4 ounces

    cheddar cheese

  • 1/4 bunch

    fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Dice 1 medium yellow onion until you have 1 cup.

  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1 pound lean ground beef. Cook, stirring and breaking up the pieces of meat into smaller pieces, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are starting to soften, about 6 minutes.

  3. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Add 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 2 cups beef broth, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine. Add 2 cups elbow macaroni, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil.

  4. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the macaroni is al dente, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, shred 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 cup). Pick the leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh parsley and coarsely chop until you have about 1/4 cup.

  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Taste and season with more kosher salt as needed. Sprinkle with the cheese and let sit until melted. Garnish with parsley just before serving. (Alternatively, garnish each serving with cheese and parsley instead.)

Recipe Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerate before reheating.

Filed in:

Beef

Ingredient

Main Dish

quick

stovetop

children

Cheesy American Goulash Can Be Made from Start to Finish in One Pot (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Hungarian goulash and American goulash? ›

There are two kinds of goulash: Hungarian goulash, which calls for the slow-simmered beef to be served alongside egg noodles, and American goulash, which pulls in ground beef and cooks the noodles in the pot alongside the sauce.

What is American goulash made of? ›

It features ground beef, pasta (usually macaroni) and tomatoes. Unlike Hungarian goulash, American goulash cooks quickly, making it a great family-friendly option for busy weeknights. Both types of goulash feature the addition of paprika for spice and warmth. What can I serve with American Goulash?

How do you soften goulash meat? ›

8 simple tips to make meat softer
  1. Utilize the meat tenderizer. A quick and easy method is the use of the meat tenderizer. ...
  2. Cover the meat with coarse salt. ...
  3. Acid marinade. ...
  4. Marinade with fruit puree. ...
  5. Slow cooking in a pan. ...
  6. Grilling. ...
  7. Add the coarse salt halfway through cooking. ...
  8. Use baking soda.

Is goulash a starter? ›

We understand, that actually 'goulash' means soup in Hungarian and it is served much more liquid with a few pieces of meat as a starter. The homemade pasta is traditional, and is so much easier than preparing Italian style pasta. Of course you could always serve this with mashed or jacket potatoes.

What is true goulash made of? ›

Traditional Hungarian Goulash has stew meat, usually beef cut into bite sized chunks. It has chopped onion and minced garlic. Some may add other veggies, but I do not. It has a tomato-based sauce with the addition of sugar (I use brown sugar or molasses) and vinegar (I use Balsamic) to control the acidity.

What is another name for American goulash? ›

While the mixture of ground beef, macaroni, and tomato sauce seems simple enough, thousands of users responded with a slew of different names. Beefaroni, goulash, slumgullion, Johnny Marzetti, American Chop Suey—the list goes on.

What are the two types of goulash? ›

Hungarian goulash and American goulash. Hungarian goulash is a thick soup with meat and vegetables, usually seasoned with paprika. American goulash is very different. It generally has tomato sauce, macaroni and beef.

What is goulash sauce made of? ›

Tomato products: You'll need two cans of diced tomatoes and two cans of tomato sauce. Sauces and seasonings: This easy goulash is flavored with fresh garlic, soy sauce, dried Italian herb seasoning, salt, and bay leaves. Macaroni: Cook two cups of elbow macaroni in the simmering meat sauce.

What country eats the most goulash? ›

Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Baking soda causes a chemical reaction with the meat, changing the texture to make it less tough, and it works quickly without having to use a marinade. Cornstarch works well to tenderize meats that will be cooked in a sauce, as it will also help to thicken the sauce.

How do you keep pasta from getting mushy in goulash? ›

I always hope for leftovers! But, not all leftovers are created equally. Pasta can get very mushy if it is left in a dish like this one. One method of avoiding mushy pasta is to just add cooked pasta into only the portion of the meat sauce you will use.

What do you eat with goulash? ›

Serve up a hearty goulash for the ultimate comforting stew on winter nights. Searching for the perfect accompaniment? Try mashed potato, dumplings or your favourite veg.

Is goulash better the next day? ›

MAKE AHEAD GOULASH Recipe

This Goulash recipe tastes even better the next day, so feel free to make it in its entirety and reheat when ready to serve.

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? ›

What's the difference between stroganoff and goulash? Traditional goulash is a type of soup or stew that uses a cheaper cut of meat suitable for slow cooking as well as peppers. Meanwhile, stroganoff is a creamy dish that uses higher-quality meat and mushrooms.

Why do Americans call it goulash? ›

American goulash is usually referred to in the midwestern and southern United States as simply "goulash". As a descendant, of sorts, of Hungarian goulash, the only real connection seems to be the name, and the inclusion of beef and paprika.

Why is it called Hungarian goulash? ›

The name originates from the Hungarian gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ]. The word gulya means 'herd of cattle' in Hungarian, and gulyás means 'herdsman' or 'cowboy'. The word gulyás originally meant only 'herdsman', but over time the dish became gulyáshús ('goulash meat') – that is to say, a meat dish which was prepared by herdsmen.

Is beef stroganoff the same as Hungarian goulash? ›

Is beef stroganoff the same as goulash? No, because stroganoff is a thick pasta dish where one of the main ingredients is some type of pasta noddle, whereas goulash is more of a stew without noodles but lots of potatoes and different spices.

Is Hungarian goulash the same as beef stew? ›

Hungarian goulash is very similar to beef stew, but there are some differences. While a typical stew consists of slow braising chunks of meat with root vegetables in a seasoned broth, goulash uses spices such as caraway, cumin, paprika, and peppers which really enhance and alter the flavor from a classic beef stew.

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